Long-time Whitehorse resident John Firth has a rather unique way of getting to know his grandfather by writing a book.

On May 6, River Time: Racing the Ghosts of the Klondike Rush will be officially launched at Midnight Sun Gallery and Gifts.

The book details Firth's journey as part of a 1997 race tracing the Klondike Gold Rush that his grandfather, T.A. Firth, followed in 1897.

Competitors in the Dyea-to-Dawson Race hiked the Chilkoot Trail, then canoed through Bennett Lake, Marsh Lake and down the Yukon River to the finish line in Dawson.

After two races in 1997 and 1998, it was cancelled when Canadian and U.S. park officials said the Chilkoot Trail was too fragile to withstand the pounding from the competitors.

'It looked like fun,' Firth, who's competed in a number of marathons, said in an interview last Thursday afternoon of why he entered the race.

He had travelled various parts of the route in the years prior to the 1997 competition, but this marked the first time he did the entire trek.

As well as a fun trip, the historical aspect of the journey and connection to his grandfather appealed to him. It was the stories people had never heard which made him decide to write the book.

'There were an awful lot stories never told,' said Firth, who was the Star's sports editor in his younger days.

He had also been urged for a number of years to write something about the Firth family history in the territory.

Part of the effort was learning how to write in the same style his grandfather would have used at that time.

Most of T.A. Firth's writings, with the exception of poetry, were destroyed years ago. John had to learn to write in the same way his grandfather would have at the turn of the century to present some of the historical letters T.A. Firth may have written.

The book tells of John Firth's journey through the trek his grandfather took during the Gold Rush.

Firth tells the story through his own narrative, the historical-style letters, his grandfather's poetry and through photographs from both Firth generations. He displays the Yukon scenery as well as the hardships faced by those who travelled the Dyea-to-Dawson route.

Rebecca Whitney, marketing coordinator for NeWest Press, said the publishing company has a board that's keen on publishing northern themes and keeping northern history alive.

'This fit really well,' she said.

When a manuscript is submitted to NeWest Press, it must meet a number of submission guidelines before a group reads it for consideration.

At least three of the readers must have a positive response to the book for it to be considered for publication.

With NeWest reachieving approximately 15 manuscripts each week, the entire process can take up to six months.

'I was delighted,' Firth said of NeWest accepting his book for publication.

He pointed out NeWest is known for publishing a high quality of writing.

Writing River Time was a very different experience from writing Firth's first book Yukon Quest, which details the annual sled dog race run between Whitehorse and Fairbanks.

'This is a totally different effort,' he said.

Yukon Quest was written from an observer's point of view. In River Time, Firth noted he brought a participant's perspective to the event making it more personal for himself.

Through the process, Firth believes he's been able to get to know his grandfather better.

There was one lesson Firth brought from his first experience to River Time.

'Books are a lot of work,' said Firth, a Whitehorse financial advisor.

As for what he hopes readers take from his latest work, he commented, 'A good read is really the bottom line.'